Even as a child, I always loved Shakespeare.
When I was at school, the RSC used to visit our town, transforming the local leisure centre into a theatre space and performing live.
I’ve seen a fair selection of Shakespeare’s plays over the years, from traditional adaptations to quirky updates that use the source material in totally new ways.
So I was excited this summer when Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre came to York. This beautiful pop-up theatre has spent the last couple of months entertaining visitors in the city centre. If you’ve ever visited Shakespeare’s Globe in London, this is similar in style, if a little smaller in scale.
Over the summer, four plays have been performed on a daily basis and this weekend I finally went along to watch my old favourite, Romeo and Juliet.
Despite buying tickets on a rainy Bank Holiday Sunday, I had a fantastic time watching the star crossed lovers tell their story. The cast were all brilliant and full of energy, with plenty of emotion at all the right moments.
Built in the car park beside Clifford’s Tower, Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre is a compound of its own, with an on-site bar and food stalls, plus a shop and other facilities. You can opt to buy a seat in the stands, or, as we did, snap up a groundlings ticket and cluster at the foot of the stage to watch the show.
We got a bit wet, but it was worth it to feel caught up in the experience. On a nicer day, it would have been lovely to spread out on the floor with a blanket and something to eat.
The season comes to an end on Sunday 2 September, so there’s still time to catch a performance if you’re quick. It’s totally worth it!